Electric submersible pump with packer arrangement and method of use

ABSTRACT

An Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)-packer arrangement including a mandrel, an ESP assembly disposed on the mandrel, the ESP assembly including a seal, a motor, and a pump, a packer assembly disposed on the mandrel, the packer assembly including an element, and an electric actuator subassembly configured to set the element, and an electrical cable connected to both the motor and the electric actuator. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, and an ESP-packer arrangement disposed in the borehole.

BACKGROUND

In the resource recovery industry Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs) are ubiquitously used in boreholes to improve production of hydrocarbon resources. Often ESPs are used in conjunction with a packer that is run to isolate a volume of the borehole from which the ESP draws and a volume of the borehole into which the ESP discharges. Such packers are available from many sources and require differing setup configurations to use with various ESPs from varying manufacturers.

The art would benefit from simplified ESP-Packer arrangements that avoid the need for engineering time to address differing design parameters.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of an Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)-packer arrangement including a mandrel, an ESP assembly disposed on the mandrel, the ESP assembly including a seal, a motor, and a pump, a packer assembly disposed on the mandrel, the packer assembly including an element, and an electric actuator subassembly configured to set the element, and an electrical cable connected to both the motor and the electric actuator.

An embodiment of a method for setting an ESP-packer arrangement including running the arrangement as in any prior embodiment, into a borehole, sending a signal along the electrical cable to the electric actuator, operating the electric actuator, and sending a signal along the same electrical cable to the ESP and pumping fluid with the ESP.

An embodiment of a borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, and an ESP-packer arrangement disposed in the borehole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ESP-Packer arrangement in a run-in condition;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the ESP-Packer arrangement in a set condition;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the ESP-Packer arrangement in a retrieve condition;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged portion of a circumscribed portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an alternate ESP-Packer arrangement in a run-in condition;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged portion of a circumscribed portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the alternate ESP-Packer arrangement in a set condition; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the alternate ESP-Packer arrangement in a retrieve condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3A simultaneously, a first embodiment of an ESP-packer arrangement 10 disclosed herein is illustrated. It is to be appreciated that both the ESP and the packer are part of the same mandrel which reduces required length, reduces complexity in connections, reduces required feedthroughs, and reduces cost of manufacture. Significantly, only a single electrical cable is required with no additional management necessary within the ESP-packer for the embodiments of the invention since the power cable is incorporated at the manufacturing stage rather than addressed at an assembly stage for independent components as in the prior. The ESP-packer arrangement 10 includes a mandrel 12. Upon the mandrel 12 is an ESP assembly 14 comprising a motor 16, a seal 18, and a pump 20. Each of the components of the ESP assembly 14 are known to the art and require no further description. Also disposed on the mandrel 12 is a packer assembly 22. As illustrated the packer assembly 22 includes a pair of slip subassemblies 24, an element 26 disposed between the slip subassemblies 24, and an electric actuator subassembly 28 operable to set and in some embodiments also unset the packer assembly 22. The element 26, in some embodiments is a compression element. The electric actuator subassembly includes a motor drive 30 and a screw 32, the screw 32 attached to a follower 34. The follower 34 is attached to the slip subassemblies and the element so that actuation of the screw causes the setting or unsetting of the element 26 by in an embodiment applying compression to the element longitudinally causing it to expand radially or by relieving compression of the element axially thereby allowing relaxation of the element radially. In embodiments, the screw may be a lead screw or a ball screw for example. FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are sequential in nature showing the arrangement first in a run-in condition (FIG. 1); in a set condition (FIG. 2); and in a retrieve condition (FIG. 3).

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3A, the ESP assembly 14 is uphole of the packer assembly 22, allowing the electric actuator 30 to be disposed adjacent the ESP motor 16.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, all numerals will carry one hundred series equivalents. An alternated embodiment an ESP-packer arrangement 110 is illustrated that positions the ESP assembly 114 downhole of the packer assembly 122 rather than uphole thereof. The embodiment exhibits the same structural and manufacturing benefits as the first embodiment in that the arrangement 110 is still built with both assemblies on one mandrel 112 allowing for the electrical cable to be addressed in the manufacturing stage rather than in the deployment stage. The reversed positioning may be beneficial for some installations where the first embodiment would be beneficial in others. All other components are the same as in the foregoing embodiment and carry one hundred series numerals.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are sequential in nature showing the arrangement first in a run-in condition (FIG. 4); in a set condition (FIG. 5); and in a retrieve condition (FIG. 6).

Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1: An Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)-packer arrangement including a mandrel, an ESP assembly disposed on the mandrel, the ESP assembly including a seal, a motor, and a pump, a packer assembly disposed on the mandrel, the packer assembly including an element, and an electric actuator subassembly configured to set the element, and an electrical cable connected to both the motor and the electric actuator.

Embodiment 2: The ESP-packer arrangement as in any prior embodiment, wherein the electric actuator is also configured to unset the element.

Embodiment 3: The ESP-packer arrangement as in any prior embodiment, wherein the electric actuator is a screw arrangement.

Embodiment 4: The ESP-packer arrangement as in any prior embodiment, wherein the screw arrangement includes a lead screw.

Embodiment 5: The ESP-packer arrangement as in any prior embodiment, wherein the screw arrangement includes a ball screw.

Embodiment 6: The ESP-packer arrangement as in any prior embodiment, wherein the electric actuator is operable in a first direction to set the element and a second direction to unset the element.

Embodiment 7: The ESP-packer arrangement as in any prior embodiment, wherein the element is a compression set element.

Embodiment 8: A method for setting an ESP-packer arrangement including running the arrangement as in any prior embodiment, into a borehole, sending a signal along the electrical cable to the electric actuator, operating the electric actuator, and sending a signal along the same electrical cable to the ESP and pumping fluid with the ESP.

Embodiment 9: The method as in any prior embodiment further comprising operating the ESP.

Embodiment 10: The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the operating is in a direction associated with setting the element.

Embodiment 11: The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the operating is in a direction associated with unsetting the element.

Embodiment 12: A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, and an ESP-packer arrangement disposed in the borehole.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).

The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)-packer arrangement comprising: a mandrel; an ESP assembly disposed on the mandrel, the ESP assembly comprising: a seal; a motor; and a pump; a packer assembly disposed on the mandrel, the packer assembly comprising: an element; and an electric actuator subassembly configured to set the element; and an electrical cable connected to both the motor and the electric actuator.
 2. The ESP-packer arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric actuator is also configured to unset the element.
 3. The ESP-packer arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric actuator is a screw arrangement.
 4. The ESP-packer arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the screw arrangement includes a lead screw.
 5. The ESP-packer arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the screw arrangement includes a ball screw.
 6. The ESP-packer arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric actuator is operable in a first direction to set the element and a second direction to unset the element.
 7. The ESP-packer arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the element is a compression set element.
 8. A method for setting an ESP-packer arrangement comprising: running the arrangement as claimed in claim 1 into a borehole; sending a signal along the electrical cable to the electric actuator; operating the electric actuator; and sending a signal along the same electrical cable to the ESP and pumping fluid with the ESP.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising operating the ESP.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the operating is in a direction associated with setting the element.
 11. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the operating is in a direction associated with unsetting the element.
 12. A borehole system comprising: a borehole in a subsurface formation; and an ESP-packer arrangement disposed in the borehole. 